Chapter 217: Illusory Blade

Reiji decided to watch Rufus deal with the problem. Using Take Over now might be too much considering that the opponents were only low-level Wild Beasts.

The monkeys don't look very strong as well but they seem to be quick and nimble. It should be a decent practice for Rufus who lacks experience fighting against multiple opponents at once.

He may be good at dealing with a one versus one situation, but fighting a crowd is definitely not his forte… 

Rufus got closer to the monkeys and assumed the water stance. He doesn't want to be too aggressive or defensive in this situation so he decided to use a very balanced form.

This would help him get used to the monkey's movement and perhaps, he could change into a more aggressive style later…

"Come!"

Rufus emitted his Spiritual Energy which attracted the monkeys' attention.

Those who are closer to him bared their fangs as they rushed fiercely… 

'Master, watch me…'

There are about eight of them as they made angry noises towards the young man…

The first monkey pounced on his side. He dodged by making a quick step on the side before making a counterstrike to his opponent…

Hiraki-Ashi!

It is the basic footwork used to fend off attacks and to strike back immediately.

Ssak!

The sharpness of his blade is incredible that he sliced the beast monkey in half… The blood splattered on the ground but the others didn't even flinch and continued launching themselves towards the young man…

'They're too violent, huh…'

Reiji actually thought that these monkeys would be more intelligent but it seems that he was thinking too much.

They were unable to feel fear and would just fight in numbers without considering the abilities of their foe… Perhaps, this is because none of them is acting as a leader…

That's right, Reiji noticed that this group doesn't have someone in them that is giving orders like the pack of wolves with an Alpha.

Haa!

He also noticed that Ruthren and the four other girls were doing great fending off the monkeys… They weren't at a disadvantage in any way at all... Their strikes weren't that strong compared to Rufus but it was enough to push away the monkeys and injure them a little.

As they are all working together, none of them are being overwhelmed and could perhaps fight the monkeys as long as they are just wildly pouncing at them and not picking rocks or other weapons to wield against them.

Slash—

Another monkey met his end after rushing at Rufus…

However, this time, another beast pounced at the same time and targeted his back…

Reiji watched the young man skillfully use his footwork to avoid and strike them at the same time. He's really fitted to using Chuudan no Kamae compared to the others. It suited his battle style as he could respond and position his sword appropriately…

"Mhmm… Swift movements, accurate sword swings, and stable footing… Not bad… 1-Dan… Perhaps, 2-Dan?"

Reiji can tell that Rufus has already surpassed the 1st-Kyu based on his confident strides and sword swings… His Waza is also commendable as he could continuously use an appropriate response to the beasts pouncing at him…

"Hmm?"

Reiji noticed that a couple of beasts were eyeing him as if they have taken an interest in his beautiful and sleek body…

Although he's not shining, these two must've realized how valuable he is… It's not that surprising at all.

Reiji was left on the camp and observing everyone fight so the two beasts coming at him didn't escape his sight…

Ack! Ack! Ack!

They made some noise that he couldn't understand before one of them tried touching him…

However, he suddenly floated above them avoiding the monkey's touch.

Thud! Thud!

Two stabs at the throat of the beasts should kill them off… 

They were unable to utter any more sounds as they clutched their throat before dying on the ground.

"Mhmm… They're fast but very vulnerable…" 

Reiji analyzed their strength in that brief moment… However, as he observed Rufus' battle, He discovered that there's a lot of corpses on the ground but it feels like the beast monkeys weren't decreasing at all…

"What's going on? Aren't they too many?"

He smiled wryly while looking at the rush of the monkeys.

He thought that they'll end this in 5 or 10 minutes but it feels like they would be exhausted first before they could dwindle the numbers of these beasts.

As he was about to help them by using his Sword Intent and Spiritual Pressure, he saw Rufus burst with Spiritual Energy as he rushed towards the enemies…

He saw another blade appearing in every strike he made…

The blade would sometimes slash in front, on his side, and even behind him…

It feels like Rufus gained another magical sword protecting him from the pouncing monkeys.

"Ohh… Is that the Illusory Blade?"

Reiji recalled the Arcane Magic of the Elite Gram Sword. He doesn't have such skill so he's not aware of how the skill works.

"I guess it's similar to my cloning technique but it has its own mind?"

He couldn't exactly tell but he knows that this is an amazing skill. He saw Rufus practicing with it before but because he was only hitting haybales or other inanimate targets, he couldn't tell that it is such an incredible ability.

The blade that Rufus manifested was actually looking like it was made of smoke that could disappear at any moment.

Aside from that, he also realized that the monkeys being sliced by it weren't being cut in half. There were no visible wounds or any type of injury but they are collapsing on the ground and no longer moving…

He considers them to have died already.

"Interesting…"

Reiji muttered as he was a bit curious how these beasts died. Are they being frozen to death with that blade? Perhaps, there's a tiny would that he couldn't see? 

He couldn't tell for now… As a matter of fact, he may not even be surprised if the blade could actually slice their soul or spirit instead…

However, if that was the case, it would be hard to imagine that someone could actually kill the previous owner of this weapon…

Aside from that, this weapon shouldn't even be sold at that cheap price at all…

It can definitely contend against some Arcana that he had seen before.

"Right… There might some risks in using this…"

The activation of the skill might have a backlash or something that is why it's not considered to be a powerful sword. 

'Master… We're in trouble… The horses might die at this rate…'

Ruthren used his unique connection to Reiji to ask for help… They are doing their best to protect the carriage including the horse on them. If the horses died, they would have trouble continuing their journey to the north. 

The latter responded and appeared near the carriage…

Boom!

A shockwave created by his fast movement occurred… It attracted the monkey's attention and angrily charged at the source of disturbance…

Ruthren and the ladies felt glad at his appearance as they relaxed for a moment…

Spiritual Pressure!

The range of this ability is large… Every beast within a hundred meters was pressed down on the ground…

"Kill! I'm holding them for now but it wouldn't last long…"

Reiji commanded everyone. 

"Yes, Master!"

Rufus and the others regained their energy after seeing the mass of monkeys flattened on the ground.

They did a quick finish on the helpless beasts and killed them without mercy.

"Forget about their cores, they're just Wild Beasts. Let the locals clean this place up. We have to move."

Reiji reminded everyone as they quickly boarded the carriage…

Although it is dangerous to move at night, it much more dangerous for them to stay within that area…

It wouldn't be surprising if Evil Beasts would start appearing at that point.

Of course, Rufus didn't forget to quickly splatter some Null Flower Essence on their carriage including their clothes to remove the bloody scent surrounding them.

If they moved without those, they would surely be sensed by the hungry Evil Beasts and would cause another problem for everyone.

Although they know that their master could save them, they shouldn't rely on him too much and try to fight for themselves instead.

In that way, they can be considered as a worthy student or slave to him.

***

As soon as Reiji and the others left the site, a group of cloaked individuals appeared and surveyed the surrounding…

"They're all dead?"

"They are… I can still feel a remnant of Spiritual Energy… It must be a powerful group."

"Tsk… Then we just wasted raising these beasts?! We will look so pathetic in front of the Elders!"

There are 10 people on site and the two of them appear to be the leader of the group.

"Sir! We found traces of the carriage! They are heading north!" 

"There are also six different footprints on the ground…"

The others immediately reported after investigating. 

The faces of the leaders lit up with that report. As long as they have someone to blame, they wouldn't have to worry…

Now, they just have to find these people who are messing with their Cult.